Vorarlberg records three complaints over school headscarf ban

Three complaints have been filed in Vorarlberg over violations of the school headscarf ban for girls under 14, and parents have been called to seven meetings with the education directorate, ORF reports, citing figures from the Education Ministry.

About 250 people demonstrated against the ban in central Bregenz on Friday, according to organisers. Vorarlberg’s state police put the turnout at 150. A week earlier, about 650 people had taken part in a protest.

Since the start of the school year, girls under 14 have been barred from wearing headscarves on school grounds. Teachers first remind pupils of the ban. Further violations can lead to a meeting with parents at the school, followed by an appointment at the education directorate. Nationwide, 252 such appointments have been held since the school year began, and 87 complaints have been filed over continued violations.

Vienna reported the most cases: as of October 8, it had held 210 meetings at its education directorate and filed 53 complaints with the district administrative authority. The authority can impose fines of 150 to 800 euros, and may do so more than once.

Lower Austria recorded 11 complaints and nine meetings, followed by Salzburg with nine complaints and four meetings, Styria with seven and 10, Upper Austria with four and six, and Vorarlberg with three and seven. Carinthia and Tyrol have filed no complaints, and reported two and four meetings respectively. Burgenland has reported no meetings at the education directorate.

The ministry said it had found no notable concentration of violations at particular schools. Most pupils at Islamic schools, where more girls may be affected by the ban, were also complying with the rule.

Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr said he was satisfied with how the ban had been implemented, adding that most pupils and parents were cooperating and that information provided before it took effect had worked well. He said parent meetings after violations were mostly successful, while further breaches could result in administrative fines.

Protests against the ban were also held in other Austrian states on Friday. They were organised by the Socialist Youth, the Action of Critical Students, the Red Falcons, communist youth groups and the initiative “Schule brennt”. An Action of Critical Students representative said schools should empower girls rather than make decisions over their heads.

ÖVP Integration Minister Claudia Bauer again criticised the demonstrations, saying she was “highly concerned” that associations were pressuring girls to protest against their own freedom.